Echinacea plant named ‘Balscanery’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balscanery’, characterized by its double-type, red-purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balscanery’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balscanery’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during October 2008. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a double flower form and a well-branched growth habit.

The new Echinacea×hybrida cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the cultivar ‘Balscoberr’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110 and U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,145, characterized by its double-type, red-orange with purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of three proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding selections coded E30-2, E32-2, and E33-5, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by their single-type, light to dark shades of orange-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July 2009 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation since July 2009 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balscanery’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, red-purple colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in inflorescence color. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in inflorescence form and inflorescence color.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Balsceras’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110 and U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,117. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsceras’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color that is         different from plants of ‘Balsceras’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Balsceras’;     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter flowers than         plants of ‘Balsceras’; and     -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have more branches per plant than         plants of ‘Balsceras’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balscanery’. Plants were transplanted from greenhouse-grown one-gallon containers and field grown for approximately 8 weeks in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balscanery’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balscanery’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2012 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse in one-gallon containers under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 50° F. to 70° F. (10.0° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 50° F. (1.7° C. to 10.0° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. The plants were transplanted to a field in West Chicago, Ill. and grown for approximately 8 weeks. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar Balscanery. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Balscoberr’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110 and             U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,145.         -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of three proprietary             Echinacea×hybrida breeding selections coded E30-2, E32-2,             and E33-5, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 18 weeks from a rooted             tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright,             herbaceous perennial.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures             up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 30.5 cm. Width: Approximately 48.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             6.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             35.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 4.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:             145A with an overlay of 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Narrowly ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 11.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             3.4 cm. Texture of upper surface: Dull, moderately pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface:             Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of             upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137C with             venation of 147D. Color of lower surface of young and mature             foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 145D. Color of             upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137B with             venation of 147D.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 6.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy,             sparsely covered with very short strigose hairs. Color of             upper and lower surfaces: Closest to 147D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balscanery’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through             autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in             a greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, double, composite.             Persistent. Shape: Hemispherical. Aspect: Facing upward.             Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles.             Fragrance: Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 16. Height: Approximately 5.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 6.7 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 12.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with             short strigose hairs. Color: 145A with an overlay of 187A.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 1. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.3 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 60A and a bud center of 144B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 13.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Aspect: Subtending. Shape:             Narrowly elliptic. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Three acute tips. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately             3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, ribbed longitudinally. Color of             upper surface when first open: 60A. Color of lower surface             when first and open: 60C. Color of upper surface when fully             open: 60B transitioning to 60C with age.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 5.0 cm. Disc             height: Approximately 3.6 cm. Quantity per inflorescence:             Approximately 250. Arrangement: Spirally arranged in center             of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin of free portion:             Entire. Apex: Three acute tips. Base: Fused into a tube.             Length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or             inner surface when first and fully open: 60A. Color of lower             or outer surface when first and fully open: 60B with 145D at             base.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.4 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 40.             Arrangement: In three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of             lower or outer surface: Surface moderately pubescent and             margins densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color             of upper surface: 137B. Color of lower surface: 137C.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 250. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             167B tipped with 187C, mid-section of 144A, and base of             145D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Vestigial. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balscanery’, substantially as herein shown and described. 